These K-9s take down desperadoes and locate lost toddlers. They are on call around the clock. A K-9's simple presence can calm someone at sixes and sevens during a domestic dispute. In the course of a career, these dogs are likely to come between their handler and disaster at least once.

But guess what? Their care and feeding rarely is a line item in their law-enforcement agency's budget.

Most departments that put K-9s on the street fund the officer and the car. The purchase of the dog, its training, medical expenses, even its kibble must be covered by donations from the public.

Anyone who has owned dogs knows even a "free-to-a-good-home" Fido is going to cost you. Feed is only a fraction of it. Taking a pet to a vet usually requires lender pre-approval. A monthly dose of flea medication runs roughly equivalent to an ounce of French perfume.

Usually bred in Europe, police German shepherds and Belgian Malinois cost about $9,500 each. Training and equipping the canine for service takes an additional $20,000. Upkeep for a year, including weekly training sessions, a special active-dog diet and veterinary expenses, can run $7,800.

With his kind, dog's-best-friend face, Dr. Ron Dalzell became aware of the lack of funding for their upkeep a dozen years ago when he was approached by Lt. Dave Inglis of the Ventura Police Department.

Dalzell, who has practiced veterinary medicine in Ventura County for more than 40 years, recalls the conversation this way.

"Would you be willing to treat the dogs?" Inglis asked. Dalzell said yes.

"Would you be willing to do it for free?" Inglis asked.

Dalzell agreed to treat the dogs at no charge.

And through the years, he's seen it all. Dogs that inhaled meth, presumably by accident. A dog that slipped on a catwalk and fell two stories through a supermarket's false ceiling. Torn knees, skinned noses and snakebites.

Dalzell's soft, blue eyes turned sad when he talked about K-9 Hanno. He died suddenly in March at age 9 of a twisted intestine after a seven-year career with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

It became obvious to Dalzell and Inglis that all donated money should go to the dogs and not into a department's general fund. So in 1998, they founded the Ventura Police Dog Foundation and received nonprofit status.

Other agencies in Ventura County soon were asking for grants from the foundation to help support their police service dogs. Today the Camarillo-based organization funds 144 K-9 teams in eight states, necessitating a name change to the National Police Dog Foundation.

The organization helps those who help themselves, said board member Judi Reilly. They want the agencies to raise as much money as they can, she said, before they receive foundation money.

Agencies throw spaghetti feeds, demonstrations in the park and golf tournaments. A comedy night on June 14 at the Majestic Ventura Theater will help support the Ventura Police Department's dogs.

Reilly's longtime vet, Dalzell introduced her to the world of K-9s. The petite 56-year-old, whose day job is corporate business development, was smitten after she took in a practice and saw all the dogs really want for a reward is their toy.

"The moment I heard these dogs were supported by donations from the public only, I signed on," she said of her service on the foundation's all-volunteer board.

Reilly is not alone. Dozens of local vets assist in their care, providing services such as free dental and eye exams. The Pet Emergency Clinics offer their services at half-price.

But the organization receives far more requests for assistance than it can fund, Dalzell said, especially since it also helps care for retired K-9s that nearly always live with their handlers after they leave the service.

That shows just how talented these canines are at apprehension. They can capture the bad guys as well as the hearts of the law-abiding.